In Southampton, nurses and their supporters lined the streets in the evening with a “mile of light” to show their unity.

And in Canterbury, nurses filled up post boxes with postcards from the public to MPs urging ministers to lift the pay cap, before holding a silent protest.

The government has imposed a pay cap which has led to a 14 percent reduction in their wages, causing severe strain on paying the food and energy bills.

Now nurses are saying enough is enough and joined supporters to help send a message to the government to scrap the cap.

James Steen, RCN officer said: “The strength of feeling amongst patients, the public and nursing staff is that the pay freeze needs to end.

“We have record vacancies and there is visible strain on patient care despite the best efforts of our members.

“Scrapping the cap will let nurses know they are valued and will help ease the pressures on the NHS which negatively affect patients.”

Jayne McCreadie from the RCN East Kent Branch added: “Nurses are upset and angry. They don’t feel valued by the Government, they don’t feel they have a voice. This is why we want to stand up for what is right and send a strong powerful message that we’ve had enough.”

The protests were part of a national day of action across the UK, called by the RCN to urge the government to lift the pay cap.

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